National General Assembly

Only four days to go until the National General Assembly! If you have not already done so, it is not too late to register. At the NGA, leaders of the major parties and a panel of leading journalists will comment on their past election experiences and their thoughts on how the election and the leaders will play out later this year.

Writer and Comedian Wendy Harmer will lead debate on the issues facing women in politics as ALGA's tribute to the Year of Women in Local Government, followed by the launch of a book relevant to that debate.

Other highlights will be an update on constitutional reform, by former Labor Minister Robert Ray and constitutional expert Professor George Williams. There will also be the launch of a set of communications material which councils can use to promote the messages of constitutional reform over the coming year.

The three concurrent sessions are on the following stimulating topics: Abandon or Adapt (coastal), Not in my Backyard, otherwise known as NIMBY, (planning and high rise) and Fit for the Future (regional development). Each has a panel of experts to facilitate the debate. And with Barack Obama's visit being delayed, the ACLG meeting is back on schedule, occurring on Friday 18th.

Sports without Borders

Several barriers sometimes prevent young people from newly arrived migrant and refugee families from participating in community sport and recreation activities. These barriers include cost, cultural appropriateness, transport, language, and simply lack of familiarity with the rules.

Sports Without Borders (SWB) is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing support for these young people who would like to get involved in sport. It provides direct grants to individuals and teams from different backgrounds to assist with social cohesion. SWB receives financial support from the Scanlon Foundation and is working with Melbourne's Cities of Hume and Moonee Valley, who are also providing grant support. SWB also receives funding from the Victorian Government, through the provision of a Victorian Community Support Grant. It collaborates with 20 councils across Victoria.

SWB is also commencing work with groups in New South Wales and has put a funding application before the Federal Government for an expanded state by state plan to roll out an SWB managed SITS (Social inclusion through Sport) program.

Interested recreation and sport managers can contact Dolores.singh@sportswithoutborders.org or click here for further information.

Regional Arts Australia

Regional Arts Australia is the key national body representing the interests of those working with and for the arts in regional, rural and remote Australia. As an advocate, the body has won better recognition and support for the vast contribution that regional arts make to the cultural, economic and social well-being of the nation.

Regional Arts Australia's national conference will be an explosion of ideas and creativity. This year, it is in Launceston, from 26-29 August. The gathering of arts professionals will draw 1,000 delegates from all over Australia, including artists, arts workers, volunteers, policy makers and those who want to learn how the arts can connect communities to a vibrant future.

The program features workshops on topics such as 'The role of arts in bushfire recovery', 'Dance like a man' and 'The top five disruptive technologies'. Speakers include three of the world's leading community development thinkers: Francois Matarasso, who specialises in community practice, Ernesto Sirolli, an Italian-born expert on social enterprise and sustainable economic development, and Mike White, an authority from the UK, on the role of the arts in health promotion and community health. Australians, Mark Peche, Marcus Westbury and Jane Bennett will be there too.

Part of the conference is the Junction Arts Festival. This encompasses theatre, opera, visual arts, cabaret, writing, installation and more, plus offerings from Australia, Canada, Indonesia and other countries.

Early bird discounts are available for those who sign up before 18th June. The complete conference and festival program is available here.

With only four days until the National General Assembly it is still possible to book for the NGA. Registration numbers are moving up towards the 700 mark now. You can register online.

The Business Papers are also available on the website and can be accessed here. They will give you an idea of the debate that will occur on this year's themes of population, participation and productivity, or "the 3 Ps" - the focus of the recent Intergenerational Report.

Against the background of the Intergenerational Report, the Henry Tax Review, the Federal Budget, and with a federal election looming, this will be an important year to be at the NGA and a chance to debate motions and agree on solutions which can contribute to local government's national direction for the coming parliamentary term.

It is also shaping up to be the biggest and best line up of speakers ever assembled at an NGA.

With President Obama's visit to Australia now officially postponed, the Australian Council of Local Government (ACLG) meeting between mayors and the Prime Minister is now confirmed for the Thursday evening and Friday following the NGA. If you are attending the ACLG, why not come to Canberra a day or two early to attend the NGA as well?

Please note that in order to report on all that happens at the NGA, next week's ALGA News will be issued on Monday 21st June rather than next Friday.

Cr Geoff Lake
ALGA President

Briefs

ATO launches new webpage on fuel tax credits

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has contacted ALGA and all councils to advise that it has a new webpage, Fuel tax credits - travel and other activities for heavy vehicles. This webpage is designed to assist councils to work out their fuel tax credits for heavy vehicle road use.

The information covers a range of topics related to heavy vehicle road use including:

• what is and isn't considered 'travel'
• the impact of metropolitan boundaries
• the difference between 'incidental travel' and 'incidental use'
• what rate to apply to an activity or vehicle
• how the road user charge affects the fuel tax credit rate
• several examples of heavy vehicle activities and rates
• what records to keep.

This is a welcome development for councils and ALGA is pleased that the ATO is keen to communicate with councils on these important and complex matters.

In addition, the ATO will be available to talk with council delegates next week at the ATO stand at the National General Assembly. This is a great opportunity for councils to raise any issues of concern either to them or their local and regional communities, with ATO staff.

Disability Ministers endorse Australian Disability Parking Scheme

Disability Ministers meeting in Adelaide on 4 June endorsed the eligibility criteria, concession provisions, and proposed timeline for the roll out of the Australian Disability Parking Scheme. The Scheme has now been referred to Australian Transport Council for endorsement.

The Scheme will unify the individual schemes and the 100 different permits that currently exist across Australia. It will deliver a national permit, eligibility criteria and minimum concessions - making it easier for people with disability to use the system.

Community and Disability Services Ministers are committed to support the roll-out of the new Australian Disability Parking Permit by the end of 2010. They have agreed to some minimum standards to disability parking concessions, but the Scheme will allow states and territories to retain their own concessions if they would like them to be more generous than the minimum.

The Scheme will introduce a new national disability parking permit design, the Australian Disability Parking Permit, which will replace the different permits issued across Australia. This will make things clearer for parking enforcement officers and will help permit holders travelling interstate. Existing permit-holders will not need to be re-tested or to reapply to receive the new national permit and will receive the new permit through the mail by the end of 2010.

Disability Ministers also agreed to national eligibility criteria for the permit. Application forms for the new permit will include a nationally consistent set of questions, but states and territories will make their own determinations about which applicants receive permits.

States and territories would be able to include their own additional diagnostic information to ensure specific medical conditions, such as blindness, continue to be recognised. Once the Scheme was been approved by the Australian Transport Council, it will be incorporated in the Australian Road Rules and then each state and territory will amend their local laws and regulations, as necessary, to reflect the new arrangements.

The Australian Disability Parking Scheme has been developed after wide consultation with permit holders, medical associations, peak organisations and state, territory and local governments to ensure it meets the community's need.

What the people want - Population Growth

On-line opinion is conducting a survey for the Local Government Association of Queensland which has been inquiring into population growth in Queensland. The survey is live at: http://polling.nationalforum.com.au/index.php?sid=76677&lang=en. (If the link will not open when you click on it, please copy and paste it into your browser address bar.) The survey will only be open until midnight Friday, June 11, 2010 EST. The results of the LGAQ research will be published on our What the people want site. If it is too late to participate in the survey, it will still be interesting to discover what other people think, and the On Line Opinion home page is below.

On Line Opinion - Australia's free Internet journal of social and political opinion. Their home page can be found here.

Premises Standards Awareness Seminars

Registrations are now open for a series of Seminars on the Premises Standards that the Australian Human Rights Commission is presenting in partnership with the Australian Building Codes Board. Cost is $115. Seminars are at the following places:

• Brisbane 12, 13 August
• Canberra 17 August
• Sydney 24, 25 August
• Darwin 27 August
• Perth 30, 31 August
• Adelaide 2 September
• Melbourne 6, 7 September
• Hobart 9 September

To register online click here.

There will be a heavy demand for places so please register early.

Strategic planning focus at BEMP

Coming together under the umbrella of the Built Environment Meets Parliament (BEMP), experts from the built environment industry, together with Australia's Commonwealth Parliament, will explore how Australia's capital city metro strategies measure up to COAG's nine performance criteria.

This year's summit, on Wednesday, 16 June, at Parliament House in Canberra, will focus on strategic planning for Australian cities now and for the future. The results of a groundbreaking capital city strategic plans audit, commissioned by the BEMP host organisations, will be released during the summit. The audit measures current major city strategic plans against COAG's future capital city strategic planning criteria.

For further information and to register, please visit www.bemp.com.au

NSW coastal residents could pay protection levies

Proposed legislation would enable owners of threatened properties to take emergency measures to protect their own properties for the first time, and open the door for councils to impose coastal protection levies. The emergency measures include permitting sandbagging where severe erosion results from storms or "an extreme or irregular event" or when such beach erosion is imminent.

The president of the Local Government and Shires Associations, Genia McCaffery, said: "We remain concerned about the ability of local councils to deal with climate change and rising sea levels." She said that the federal government should have overriding responsibility for the issue.

The executive officer of the Sydney Coastal Councils Group, Geoff Withycombe, said: "Emergency work for the individual property should be the responsibility of that property owner but large-scale works for a beach should be [funded] across the rate base."

Mr Withycombe said that, while individual properties might need works to be undertaken to protect them, they needed to look at the bigger picture, citing problems at Byron Bay, where a number of properties had already been lost to the advancing sea front.

Public Art seminar at Shoalhaven

Shoalhaven City Council is presenting a free seminar for artists, cultural officers, engineers, urban planners, landscape architects and others interested in public art and local government on 21 June.

Speakers include the following:

Andrew Overton - Winner of a Churchill Fellowship, Andrew has travelled the world investigating public art. He was in instrumental in developing Parramatta City Council's unique approach - requesting Arts Plans with Development Applications.

Celeste Coucke is a ceramist and sculptor experienced in private and corporate commissions, exhibition works and public art projects. Celeste will speak about Storyline - a contemporary pavement artwork.

Sue Bessell (Wollongong City Council) coordinates large scale projects, as well as providing advice to business and local organisations.

Refreshments and lunch will be provided. Registration details below:

Limited seats so RSVP essential by 16 June 2010. Phone 4422 0648, or email creightonb@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au

The seminar is proudly presented by the Shoalhaven City Council with support from the Shoalhaven Arts Board and the Local Government Association of NSW and Shires Association of NSW.

Running a choir?

Do you run a choir for the disadvantaged or people with special needs... or would you like to start one? Then get yourself along to Sing-posium Victoria 2010, to be held in Melbourne from 2-4 July 2010. Thanks to the support of organisations such as VicHealth, The British Council, Federation Square and St Vincent's Hospital, places are FREE!

"Here is a great opportunity to learn and network with pioneering leaders working in this field of special needs choirs, for the first time, says MPFL campaign supporter Dr Jonathon Welch, the man behind Sing-posium and the founding director of the Sydney Street Choir and Choir of Hard Knocks, now known as Choir of Hope and Inspiration.

Joining Jonathon to share their skills and lead workshops and training sessions over the weekend will be: Matthew Peacock, StreetWise Opera from the UK; Heather Gridley, Community Psychology, Honorary Fellow Victoria University; Michelle Trevorrow, Fundraising and Marketing Consultant, and Keynote speaker, our very own Music in Communities Award winner and campaign stalwart, Pat Rix, from Adelaide's groundbreaking Tutti.

Register your interest with Suzanne Marryatt

Supporting Indigenous youth

The first of a number of community events around the nation focusing on Indigenous youth has begun, as part of the Rudd Government's National Binge Drinking Campaign. The Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon, said the campaign called Your Life, Your Culture, YOU CHOOSE! had been tailored to bring Indigenous youth together at events with their local communities and health professionals to put the focus on alternatives to binge drinking.

"Almost a quarter of Indigenous people aged 18-24 report binge drinking at least once a week. Simply telling them not to drink won't work in the absence of anything else. We want young people to think about things like sport and music - things that will fit in with their culture and strengthen their communities, their families and above all their health," Mr Snowdon said.

"This campaign encourages young Indigenous people to talk about alcohol issues and how they can look after their family and friends when they find themselves in difficult situations. Communities need to work together to address binge drinking - but we need to support those communities," Mr Snowdon said.

The Your Life, Your Culture, YOU CHOOSE! Campaign began in December with audio and print advertising and public relations activities to give Indigenous youth positive messages and images about strong culture, families and healthy choices.

The National Binge Drinking Campaign is just one element of the Rudd Government's plan to tackle binge drinking. The Government is also investing:

• $14.4 million in community-level initiatives to confront the culture of binge drinking, in partnership with sporting and community organisations;
• $19.1 million to intervene earlier to assist young people and ensure that they assume personal responsibility;
• $20 million advertising campaign, Don't Turn a Night Out into a Nightmare, confronting youth with consequences of binge drinking.

More information on the campaign can be found here. You can also contact the Department of Health and Ageing about the campaign on (02) 6289 7400.

Modernisation key to survival

The Shires Association of NSW has reiterated the need to modernise the Local Government sector in order to ensure its survival in the future.

"Major health reforms, climate change, variable economic cycles, population growth, changes to information technology and an ageing population will all have a significant impact on Local Government - and we need to be prepare ourselves for any challenges they may bring," said President Cr Bruce Miller in his opening address at the annual Shires Association Conference in Sydney this week.

He said that they were working towards the formation of One Association to represent Local Government in NSW because having a unified voice would help to strengthen the sector. He also spoke about getting State and Federal governments on board.

The need to be vigilant during upcoming health reforms was another key point outlined by Cr Miller.

The conference also featured The Hon Barbara Perry MP, Minister for Local Government; The Hon Tony Kelly MLC, Minister for Planning; Chris Hartcher, Shadow Special Minister of State and Shadow Minister for Inter-Governmental Relations; and Gladys Berejiklian MP, Shadow Minister for Transport. The Minister for Community Services, the Hon Linda Burney MP and Minister for Water, the Hon Phil Costa MP also addressed delegates.

For the full program, please click here.

NSW Councils play key role in Aboriginal community upgrades

Councils across the state are helping improve access to cleaner water and better sewerage services for Aboriginal communities by taking part in a $205 million initiative of the NSW Government and NSW Aboriginal Land Council.

61 communities now have, or soon will have, upgraded facilities through the Aboriginal Water Supply and Sewerage Improvement Program. President of the Shires Association Cr Bruce Miller congratulated councils for their involvement in the program.

President of the Local Government Association Cr Genia McCaffery stressed the importance of the program for local Aboriginal communities. "Access to clean safe drinking water is a basic human right that a lot of us take for granted," she said. "Many Aboriginal communities were found to have water and sewerage services that did not reach basic Australian standards, and didn't have the skills or funds to operate and maintain them. Councils were very eager to form a partnership with the State Government and the NSW Aboriginal Land Council, and it's great to see them ... providing safe and reliable drinking water."

Councillor Miller highlighted a number of councils, such as Moree Plains Shire and Liverpool Plains Council, which were working with local communities to improve services and reduce costs.

Rural towns take measures to boost populations

The NSW Shires Association has called on other spheres of government to undertake assessments of rural towns to determine their ability to accommodate projected population booms. The Association moved the motion at its annual Shires Association in Sydney this week.

"By 2050, our population is projected to increase to 36 million," said President of the Shires Association, Cr Bruce Miller. "At the same time, populations in rural and regional councils are rapidly declining, which is a real shame because they have so much to offer potential residents."

Mayor of Cootamundra Cr Paul Braybrooks, who moved the motion, said many rural and regional towns have the physical capacity to accommodate much larger populations than they presently have.

"Cootamundra for example, would have the capacity to increase its present population by 20%," said Cr Braybrooks. It just makes perfect sense to encourage more people to live in these areas, rather than duplicating services in already-congested cities to cope with population growth."

Councils also opposed the decision of Tourism NSW to alter its funding model for regional tourism organisations, compelling them to be self-funded by 2011.

Rural councils welcome commitment to decentralisation

The NSW Shires Association has welcomed Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell's commitment to a 'Decade of Decentralisation.'

In his opening address to delegates at the annual Shires Association Conference this week, Mr O'Farrell outlined a need for grassroots governance - returning important services to the frontline and giving rural and regional councils a louder and more active voice.

President of the Shires Association, Cr Bruce Miller was particularly pleased with Mr O'Farrell's emphasis on placing more trust in Local Government.

"Local Government is perfectly capable of making timely and transparent decisions, and I thank Mr O'Farrell for reinforcing this in his address today. Giving councils and their communities ample opportunity to participate in decision making across a number of issues was another key factor highlighted by Mr O'Farrell this morning.

"He's promised a review into our current planning system which will see planning powers returned to councils, giving residents a chance to shape their own communities. We fully support any policies or methods that make Local Government stronger and more resilient," said Cr Miller.

Mr O'Farrell also promised to give regional NSW a more prominent stance.

"The needs of rural and regional councils are sometimes overshadowed by what happens in Sydney, which is unfair on both councils and their communities. Mr O'Farrell has made a commitment to move away from the Sydney-centric way of thinking and bring country NSW into the forefront - this is a very important consideration for us. I look forward to working with the Opposition should they be successful at the upcoming election," he said.

Launch of online community on creating inclusive societies

Rio de Janeiro, May 27th 2010 - A unique global online community on migration and integration was launched today at the UN Alliance of Civilizations Forum in Rio de Janeiro.

Developed jointly with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), this website will convene a worldwide community of policy makers, practitioners and civil society activists who work together to improve relations among migrants and host communities.

This online community features ideas and innovative projects from around the world, highlighting successful models and inspiring new initiatives. It also illustrates the positive impact of migration and the benefits it can bring to host societies, as migrants contribute to the economic, cultural and social life of their new country.

The migration and integration website includes a global interactive map, links to resources on migration policies and relevant events, a gallery of socially engaged artists and a forum allowing migrants and professionals who offer answers to complex integration issues.

From fighting racism with humour in France to welcoming Sudanese refugees in Australia, from using graphic design as an integration tool for migrant women in Germany to enhancing the role of religious leaders in mediation, from promoting the right to health in South Africa to enhancing bilingual education in Phoenix, Arizona, the online community connects a wide range of partners to help migrants adapt to their new home and host communities to integrate newcomers in an increasingly diverse environment.

More information here.

Tasmanian takes on the Presidency of LGMA

The General Manager of Kingborough Council in Tasmania, Paul West, is the new national President of Local Government Managers Australia. Mr West takes over the role from City of Kwinana Chief Executive Officer, Neil Hartley, who was President for the past 12 months.

Mr West has been a member of LGMA for the past 17 years and a member of the national board since 2006. He is a past president of LGMA Tasmania and has participated in a number of state-wide issues, including state and local government financial reforms working party; Local Government Act (Governance) review working party; and Local Government Board (reviewing the potential voluntary merging of two councils on Tasmania's east coast).

Mr West says that as President, he will focus on delivering initiatives, including the professional development of women in the Year of Women in Local Government; environmental awareness programs in regional communities; training and development opportunities; and continuing support of the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government.

He says that LGMA plays an important role by providing leadership, policies and guidance to assist professional managers to meet these challenges and continues to be at the forefront of change and innovation in local government.

Surf Life Savers help rescue their beaches from rubbish

Surf Life Savers on the Sunshine Coast are not only saving lives, but also rescuing their beaches and local marine life as part of a Do the Right Thing, Use the Right Bin trial recycling campaign.

As part of the recycling trial, funded by EcoSurf, the Sunshine Coast Regional Council and AFGC's Packaging Stewardship Forum, there are new recycling bins, clear bin signage and education programs at Mudjimba (Maroochy North Shore) and Dicky Beach, Caloundra.

Don Parry, EcoSurf Coordinator and member of the Mudjimba Surf Life Saving Club founder, said that the recycling campaign aimed to use the trials as a basis for the full implementation of recycling to all 15 Surf Clubs along the Sunshine Coast Branch, from Bribie Island to Rainbow Beach.

Sunshine Coast Councillor and regular beach-goer Keryn Jones is a major supporter of the campaign and is extremely proud of the commitment being shown by the public and the Surf Life Saving volunteers.

"The recycling and waste bins are filling up each weekend and through strong messaging, reinforced by Surf Life Savers, contamination in the recycling bin is less than 10 per cent - not bad for a first time trial," Cr Jones said.

"Visibly, there is hardly any litter on the beach at all anymore, whereas before litter became buried in the sand and was left to be washed out to the sea when the tide came in, causing big problems for our precious marine life. I encourage all beach-goers to enjoy their time at the beach, but keep in mind this important message - Do the Right Thing, Use the Right Bin."

The trials are due to end in May with results announced at the inaugural EcoSurf Forum, a program which encourages surf lifesavers to work together with corporate and government partners and other community groups to have a positive impact on the environment. To find out more about the Eco Surf Forum or recycling trials please contact Don Parry at don@qprint.com.au.